How To Get Naked Furniture With a Heat Gun!

By Mandi 07/02/2012

Did you know that there are other ways to strip paint other than using paint stripper? Its true! If you are a long time Vintage Revivals reader you may remember Vicki. This is how Vicki looked when I found her for $50 at the DI.

Beautiful right?

Well at this point in my life/blog I felt like I HAD to do something to her. I wanted to do something to her. So I did. I painted her gray and added custom cut mirrors.

vicki 1

When the overhaul of my living room started Miss Vicki needed to not be gray anymore. But when the daunting task of stripping a large piece of furniture lays ahead you put it off for as long as you can…

So while I was in my avoid and procrastinate mode I got an email from my friends at HomeRight (you might remember I painted my kitchen table with their CommandMax Sprayer) they had the perfect solution to my dilemma. The Heat Pro Deluxe II.

And THIS is what Vicki looks like now…or again…well, you know what I mean.

Mid Century Modern Credenza 2

When it comes to stripping furniture I am pro. I have done it quite a few times but I had never heard of using a heat gun to remove paint.

It works best on surfaces that have a few layers of paint. (Vicki had a layer of Kilz primer and 3 or so layers of spray paint. If you are unsure about what kind of paint was used and the piece is older I would recommend lead testing the paint before you use the heat gun.)

Turn your Heat Pro Deluxe to the recommended heat setting (mine was the highest. With that setting its going to be 1000 degrees so be smart and don’t check to see if its working with your hand.)  Hold it about 4” away from the surface and watch like magic how the paint starts to bubble. Moisture in the wood is being released because of the heat and it makes the paint bubble.

How To Strip Furniture Using A Heat Gun

 

Then scrape off the paint. It will be really dry and flakey.

Strip Paint With A Heat Gun

Make sure that you don’t hold the heat gun in the same spot for too long because you can scorch the wood. When you have your surface scrapped it will look like this:

026

Then you are going to put a thin layer of Paint Stripper down,  I prefer CitriStrip. The remainder of the paint will come right off.

I was scared that the temperature of the heat gun would break the mirror on the fronts so I used CitriStrip on them and let me tell you, it was SO much cleaner using the Heat Pro. The dry paint just swept up, the stripper is so much messier and takes 5x longer.

The wood on Miss Vicki is SO beautiful. Its two tone and I wanted to make sure that you could see it so I used a natural stain to bring out the natural color of the wood. (I always thought natural stain was just a light stain but that was because every time I used it I was using light wood. On something like this piece that is *I think* Walnut and Mahogany it brought out the colors and they are AMAZING!!

002

To finish it off and protect it I used Danish Oil.

How to strip funiture with a heat gun

Refinish Wood Furniture

Mid Century Modern Credenza 2

I love how it turned out and I would use the Heat Pro again in a heart beat.

I know so many of you have projects that you need some help with so….I used my charm and good looks to line up a giveaway for a Heat Pro Deluxe II Kit!! (click over and read about all the AMAZING things this tool does!)

image

It comes with all of the tools that you could ever need to strip a piece of furniture.

Enter the giveaway here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love  Your  Guts,  Mandi

244 thoughts on “How To Get Naked Furniture With a Heat Gun!”

  1. I just bought an antique buffet that is simply lovely, but the gal I got it from said she “hated” to paint it because the wood was laid so decoratively and I would LOVE to see what’s under there!

  2. We have a kitchen table sitting in the basement just waiting to be stripped, I’m dreading the process so I have been procrastinatint

  3. I want to use this on a great MCM dresser I bought off Craigslist that is painted all sorts of terrible colors. I’ve just been procrastinating bc I don’t want to strip it all!! 🙂

  4. I’ve been debating painting my step-mother’s old desk, and if I ever changed my mind, THAT is what I would use the heat gun for!

  5. I’ve never heard of this either. I have a ton of projects that I want to repaint. First, would be a dresser that I painted pink!!

  6. Ohhhhh my! So I tried refinishing my kitchen table a couple of years ago (first piece I’ve done and it turned out like a big hunk of you-know-what…) I would use this on that table that’s been an eyesore since I decided to first get creative!

  7. I have to say that normally I adore painted furniture but in this case I love it so much more in its natural wood. The mirrors are the perfect touch though. It really is a fabulous piece.

  8. Vicki looks awesome!! You can’t tell you ever spray painted her. Wow! I would love to win this heat gun and strip paint off wooden closet doors that have been striped with 4 coats of paint stripper and still need more work.

  9. I want that thing! I refinish furniture all the time! I have a Birdseye Maple Dresser that I stupidly painted white back in the day- totally ruining the wood! OR SO I THOUGHT! This would give me a chance at a “do over” so I can do right by that vintage piece!

  10. I love soy-based stripper for stripping brick, but a gun would be so much easier inside. I need a heat gun to strip the white paint off the brick behind my fireplace.

  11. I LOVE Vicky back in her “natural” state! Beautiful! I hate stripping, the heat gun looks awesome! I could use it on several projects, namely the nightstand I started stripping months ago….

  12. I’ve got a bench that I could certainly use the Heat Pro on. I’m all about getting things done FAST!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  13. The first thing I would use this on would be a kitchen door that appears to have at least 3 layers of paint. From there, maybe the trim on the windows …

  14. I have a few projects and I have going on so I would use it to strip! (Furniture of course.)

  15. Vicki looks beautiful! I’m bugged that you have to have a Facebook account to enter the give away. I think facebook sucks. It almost destroyed my marriage so I refuse to have a Facebook account. I think it’s a little weird that you have all these contests through Facebook after all this time of you saying that you think Facebook is a bad idea & had made an agreement with your husband not to have Facebook accounts. I can see why you would have a Facebook account to promote your business/blog but why would you run all of your contests through Facebook requiring your readers to have Facebook accounts if you admitted that you thought Facebook accounts were not a good idea? Interesting…

  16. My best friend, mom, and I are starting a furniture flipping/crafted decor business and right now we’re in the process of collecting and revamping old pieces of furniture. We could DEFINITELY use this to beautify our crap!

    Brittany Dodgen – [email protected]

  17. I would love to have this heat gun! Right now, I can’t bring home painted furniture to redo because hubby knows just how much I hate stripping furniture. With a heat gun like that, I’d automatically have a good excuse! And I truly need all the excuses I can get…I’m kind of a sicko when it comes to old furniture (which is partly why I love your blog:)

  18. This is seriously awesome! I’ve never heard of such a thing either, but it would be so handy. I have this TV console that my hubs and his friend CARRIED (yes, with their arms) from Goodwill to our apartment because it wouldn’t fit into either of their cars and they knew I wanted it. However, as much as I love the console, the colors it is painted doesn’t do it justice and I could never get rid of it–they’d kill me! 🙂

  19. I have an antique bakers table with awesome possum drawers. I use it as a changing table in my babys room. I painted it blue- but now it need to be red! I would love to use a heat gun!

  20. I have used paint stripper many times – worst part is how it stings if it touches your skin at all! ugh. This little baby would come in so handy

  21. I’d love this! I used citrastrip on old corbels from the architectural salvage shop… It took FOREVER! I have a vanity and dresser I’d love to refinish.

  22. Wondering if it would work on hardwood floors that have been painted? I’ve got the front porch that I’m looking to strip a few layers of paint off, then stain.

  23. Girl….Home Right gave me one of these babies to try out and to give away on my blog, and it was a bit of a MESS! And it was just a small table–not a large sideboard/buffet like yours. Works if you have patience, and if you are careful about not scortching the wood. I found that I like the HeatPro best for removing caulking from my shower, and removing stickers that my kids put on the floor. But removing paint?? Nah–Use a sander, if you must, and THEN the stripper. You’ll save tons of time and headache!

    Serena
    Thrift Diving

  24. I have an old old old dresser that is painted black and white. I don’t like the paint, but I love the dresser. I’d use this to clean it up!

  25. Would absolutely love to try this. Got a dresser sitting on my porch painted red that needs to be “necked”, so I can re-do her. I’ve been procrastinating because I dread stripping & sanding. 🙂

  26. I have an antique desk. It’s not very fancy – but it sat in my uncle’s farmhouse for years and the paint has turned black. Biggest problem is that it has 1000 grooves and curves and I haven’t figured out how to scrape or sand those areas!

  27. This is my grandfather’s method — except he used a soldering torch, and he kept a water hose handy!

  28. Love it -so much better! I am not a fan of everything being painted, no offense. But when it has nice lines and is a good solid, vintage piece, painting devalues it. Advice to everyone – don’t ever paint or refinish until you know what you have!

  29. Oh, that would be the greatest tool! Using a paint stripper is such a messy project. I have a couple tables and chairs in my shed I need to strip that the heat gun would be perfect for!

  30. I am totally afraid of hot things, but I would use this… or make the hubby use it. I have a dresser that has a ton of little spots that I have been putting off cause I don’t want to do it, but I would totally do it with this! Thanks!!

  31. I could really, really use this on my wooden windows in my downstairs half bath. I have an old heat gun but it is on its last legs.

  32. I would use it on these two etegeres that I have. I tried painting them and it’s not going well so I want to start over.

  33. My hubby used a head gun on all the molding in our living room and has used his about a million times since then. But, I would definitely use it to tackle the pile of yard sale treasure building up in our spare bedroom!

  34. Love the refinish of the piece, and the added mirror. If I had the heat gun I would get on Craigslist and find a new treasure. 😉

  35. Heat guns are awesome! I used to have one that I used for stripping paint and art projects but loaned it and never saw it again 🙁

  36. Awesome!!! I love the look of Vicki! I would use the heat gun on a night stand I picked up that has 1001 coats of paint on it!

  37. I would use this on an old buffet that my grandmother painted white crackle! Thanks for the tip…hate stripper!

  38. I would use it on my kiddo’s dresser, and about a million other projects I have planned!! And Vicki looks great BTW!

  39. I’d use it on a dresser that was painted years ago – even if the wood underneath is crappy, it can’t be as bad as the current paint job!

  40. I’d use it on a white painted dresser I found on Craigslist. It’ll be a beauty down the road. 🙂

  41. I bought this really awesome bookshelf from an estate sale almost a year ago but I just haven’t had the motivation to strip the insane amount of coats of paint on the thing. I think a heat gun would be perfect for stripping the paint off it!

  42. I would love to solder some wood projects, see if its possible i have some skill handed down from my late Father? Also, my Husband could use it for swimming pools he works on when he installs new vinyl liners, he uses an old hair dryer of mine so this would work better I presume? Thank you for the opportunity and good luck to all!!

  43. I have foot upon foot of wonderful original 100 year old hardwood windows, doors and trim..that the previous owners painted white. My husband and I want to remove all the white paint and take that gorgeous wood back to what it was, the heat pro would be sooooo efficient and sooooo much cleaner than using stripper throughout the house!

  44. who would have thought?!? I have an antique buggy bench that is been in the procrastinate pile for way to long now.

  45. Would love to try this out on several pieces I have to finish. Love your “Miss Vickie” – that is one awesome piece of furniture. Inserting mirrors on it was genius. Expensive to cut???

  46. This is awesome news…I too have the Command Max and LOVE IT! I was not aware they had a heat gun and this would work perfectly for a piece I have been putting off refinishing. HATE stripping old paint! Thanks for sharing!

  47. ohmygosh…..I have a hutch that needs to be stripped and I just keep pushing it down my “to do” list..I would LOVE to win this!!! Thanks!!!

  48. I love what you have done with Vicki!

    What wouldn’t I use with the heat pro gun? I would start with a dresser that is dying to be revamped, and basically use it on everything else in my house. 🙂

  49. Oh I love this! I have a wardrobe that seriously has SOOO many freaking layers of paint, and I knew it would be too expensive and time consuming to strip with liquid stuff. This would be perfect! Thanks for the giveaway chance! 🙂
    Nat
    doodlecraft.blogspot

  50. Cool. I picked up a drawerless dresser on the curb that needs to be stripped. And I’m sure that some day I’ll want to strip the dresser I just painted lavender.

  51. I would use it on some book shelves I painted a few years ago. I’ve changed my mind about the colors in my livingroom (imagine that), so it’s time for it to stipped and painted, ummmmmm off white, or raspberry, or catalina green….just not brown anymore.

  52. Oh…I don’t know….EVERYTHING!! Like you, Mandi, I’m feeling the need to let the wood breathe on all my previously painted projects. This heat gun looks like just the new little toy I need to add in my “toy box”! Love it!

  53. Gosh, where do i start…we have nightstands, coffee tables, chests, dressers, and a desk that all need to be stripped and stained or repainted…this would come in handy BIG TIME!!

  54. Weirdly enough hubby and I were just discussing heat guns last night! I am stripping old woodwork with noxious poisonous stuff. I wish I had one of these!!!!

  55. This looks beautiful natural! I am stripping a French Provincial dresser right now and its been a nightmare, especially removing the residue from the citristrip. It’s making me crazy! This looks like a really handy tool and I love how your project turned out!

  56. Weirdly enough hubby and I were just discussing heat guns last night! I am stripping old woodwork with noxious poisonous stuff. I wish I had one of these!!!!

  57. this is amazing! I love vicki au natural. I do a lot of painting but sometimes a piece screams out to be stripped down to it’s naked loveliness. The heat gun looks amazing.

  58. I would use it on a dresser that is sitting in my bedroom waiting to be stripped. I have never stripped before and have been really putting it off. Plus, I live in Texas and it is over 100 right now, and my workshop is not a/c! I could use the heat gun inside!!! Yes!
    By the way, what “natural stain” did you use? Can you tell us more about that? xoxox

  59. I’ve only ever used heat guns. I have a lovely dresser that needs a new paint job. Thanks for the giveaway!

  60. I would love to use this on my son’s dresser. I painted it pink and gray before he was born, since we were told he was going to be a she. Surprise!!! Doesn’t exactly go with his boyish room.

  61. WOW! What a great tool! I sure could put it to good use! Thanks for offering the giveaway.

    Zan

  62. This is an amazing tool!! There are so many times this would have come in handy! Awesome giveaway!! 🙂 Thank you!

  63. I would first use it to try and remove a few tiles that have chipped in my bathroom so I can just replace 2-3 tiles, not the whole bathroom!

  64. I would use it on the trim on some of my doors and maybe even on some doors themselves. And I would have to find a piece of furniture at a thrift store to try it out on too! 🙂

  65. I was just researching heat guns this morning for applying “foil tape” for my stained glass projects. After seeing your blog post, it seems that this tool would be multi functional and so worth having! Thanks Mandi!
    Mary Stack

  66. I have a beautiful yellow dresser that’s got big brass handles and brass corner pieces that I thrifted, with a matching small cubby that I keep bedding in. They’re both a little worse for the wear and could use a freshening up, which would be so much better with a stripping first than layering paint over.

    As a side note – I found your site through a beautiful posting on shelterness.com about the pvc dresser that you did – Hailee’s living room is to die for. Everything in there is a so inspirational and lovely.
    I’ve been having fun going through yoru site, and I absolutely LOVE this beautiful piece of yours (and that you named her)! We have a similar looking old stereo, but I could never dream of painting mine. Too scary!
    The mirrored effect with the natural wood looks just as gorgeous as the original, but gives it an awesome modern spin. So creative.

    Thanks!
    Winter

  67. I absolutely LOVE your blog!!! I have a piece of furniture that I need to strip and repaint and have been putting it off for a LONG while. This would be awesome to have!!! Thanks for all the great ideas – if I only had an ounce of your creativity . . . .

  68. Shirley said:
    I have an old dresser that need some loving care. This would do the trick if I could win this giveaway.

  69. I have an antique library table that my husband used as a desk when he was child that needs a complete overhaul. Right now the legs and apron are hunter green (80’s struck this poor table) and the top is natural oak. I would love to strip her down and paint her cream with a stained top and put her in my sewing room.

  70. Rafflecopter wouldn’t let me leave my comment… but I would totally use this on my kitchen table and several other pieces of furniture I have sitting in my garage waiting for the day I feel energetic enough to strip the paint off lol.

  71. I would start with my Granddaughters dresser and work my way up from there. I have always dreaded doing stripping and when I attempted it I wasn’t very good at it. Thanks for the great ideas. Now I know why my SIL (which you met this past weekend and they are in 7th Heaven let me tell you what!)
    Hugs,
    Vicki R
    [email protected]

  72. I have a few projects that I’ve had a change of heart about colour-wise. The first of which would be a chair, night table, and bookshelf that need to be black instead of what they currently are for our spare bedroom renovation!

    la vie en fuchsia
    rymistri.blogspot.com

  73. I would love to have one of these. I have alot of furniture I would like to redo. Just found your blog while watching craft wars, and am loving it!!!!!

  74. I had such a horrible time last week stripping my front door! I would have loved to use this on that project!! Now I could finish painting the rest of my doors!!

  75. LOVE the heat gun!
    I am super sensitive to chemicals and HIGHLY allergic to citrus, so all the wonderful chemical & eco friendly strippers out there kill me.
    We have 4 fireplaces that are getting heat gun stripped this fall (although w the heat wave we’ve been having, i could prolly throw them out on the porch for a couple days!)

  76. Um, oops…forgot to read the entry question first. I don’t have any furniture I’m ready to strip right now, but I know my friend would love to do her dining room table!

  77. I would redo my entry buffet. It was my mother in laws and I’m excited to give it a new color.
    Thanks for the give away!

  78. Wow, I’m impressed at how well that made even the primer come off! Great option to chemicals for preggo DIYers like me, too! I have a couple of huge cabinets in the new baby’s room-to-be that could definitely use work before he arrives.

  79. I’d use it to redo the platform rocker that belonged to my grandfather. Poor thing’s just been sitting in the basement for almost 30 years (the rocker, not my grandfather).

  80. I used a heat gun to strip every door in my house. It worked very well. After the gun I apply stripper, wait a short time then rub the rest of the paint or varnish off with #3 steel wool. Repeat if needed. If repainting I apply two coats of primer then the finish coat of paint. If staining apply stain with a brush and even it out with a cloth. Then apply a sealer like polyurethane or deft either satin,semigloss or gloss. A second coat may help. Be careful not to scorch the wood with the heat gun.

  81. Mandy, I could kiss you right now! I’ve been a long time reader and I love your style and enthusiasm. I recently bought a piece at a swap meet that was just the right size for a media console in our room, solid wood, good lines, perfect. The only problem was that the ladies that sold it were on the Chalk paint wagon and had painted it emerald green. Not my style unfortunately. I still had to have it. Now I’ve been sanding that bugger for 2 days and dreading starting the drawers and I had no idea how I was going to get the hard to reach parts. Then I remembered you Vicki and that you had gone back to wood after paint. Thank you so much for posting how you did it!!! you are a life (and back, hands and knees) saver!

  82. I love your idea of not using chemicals. Actually I have some old furniture for refinishing and your article made me do that. I love this vintage style. It is like pure magic in your home. Best regards. Hope you have more projects like this one!

  83. There was an old cabinet left in my 1912 home that I want to restore, how do i test for lead paint?

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